The Gut Microbiota and its Potential Role in Obesity

Abstract

The human GI tract harbors a diverse and dynamic microbial community comprising bacteria, archaea, viruses and eukaryotic microbes, which varies in composition from individual to individual. A healthy microbiota metabolizes various indigestible dietary components of the host, maintains host immune homeostasis and nutrient intake, but, an imbalanced microbiota has been reported to be associated with many diseases, including obesity. Rodent studies have produced evidence in support of the causal role of the gut microbiota in the development of obesity, however, such causal relationship is lacking in humans. The objective of this review is to critically analyze the vast information available on the composition, function and alterations of the gut microbiota in obesity and explore the future prospects of this research area.

Keywords:

• Archaea
• microbiota
• obesity
• rodent

Supplementary data

To view the supplementary data that accompany this paper please visit the journal website at: www.tandfonline.com/doi/suppl/10.2217/fmb-2017-0179.

Acknowledgements

The University of The Punjab is acknowledged for logistic support. The authors thank S Humphries, UCL London, for critical reading and helpful comments on the manuscript. Ms S Sarwar is acknowledged for help in preparing figures.

Financial & competing interests disclosure

The authors have no relevant affiliations or financial involvement with any organization or entity with a financial interest in or financial conflict with the subject matter or materials discussed in the manuscript. This includes employment, consultancies, honoraria, stock ownership or options, expert testimony, grants or patents received or pending, or royalties.

No writing assistance was utilized in the production of this manuscript.

Additional information

Funding

The University of The Punjab is acknowledged for logistic support. The authors thank S Humphries, UCL London, for critical reading and helpful comments on the manuscript. Ms S Sarwar is acknowledged for help in preparing figures